Question Number: 4297

Law 18 - Common Sense

RE: rec

Steve of Los Angeles, ca usa asks...

The attacking team takes a shot on goal.The goalkeeper stops. the ball but gets the wind knocked out of him.The ball is free. and is kicked in by the attacking team.Should I have stopped the game due to the injury or let them play on?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Let's see. This is rec level. If below U16, I see a helpless goalkeeper who could possibly get the tar kicked out of him by the ball that he stopped. Chance for serious injury so I'd stop play for sure. At higher level of play, probably not.

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Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Just a thought, there are those that say a that having a goalkeeper who is incapacitated is the same as not having a goalkeeper, and if that is their opinion then it violates Law 3 if play continues. If that were your opinion then stopping play would be supported by Law. If your opinion was that the goalkeeper was in jeopardy of further injury then stopping play is in order. If the goalkeeper appeared seriously injured then you must stop play. If you saw that there was no chance for the goalkeeper, if uninjured, to stop the follow-on then allowing the goal would be in order. Experience is the key here, the referee's feel for the game is paramount in a decision such as this. Very subjective, this...Regards,

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